Ethnic Cleansing for ‘Gaza’s Riviera’?

During a press conference with PM Netanyahu on Tuesday evening, President Trump said the United States “will take over” the Gaza Strip. Around the world, observers were shocked. But the statement didn’t come out of the blue. “The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too,” Trump … Continue reading “Ethnic Cleansing for ‘Gaza’s Riviera’?”

Thirty Years of Middle East Lies Just Keep Coming Back To Bite US

The story: Did you believe it 30 years ago when they told you that the Oslo Accords would bring peace to the Middle East? That Israel would finally withdraw from the Palestinian territories it had illegally occupied for decades, end its brutal repression of the Palestinian people, and allow a Palestinian state to be created … Continue reading “Thirty Years of Middle East Lies Just Keep Coming Back To Bite US”

‘Red Hand’ Revolt in Serbia: People Power or Color Revolution?

For six weeks now, Serbia has been rattled by what purports to be a student rebellion, leading to the prime minister’s resignation last week and rumors of a snap election. Students from sixty-three colleges of five state and two private universities, as well as four high schools, have emerged as the biggest challenge to the … Continue reading “‘Red Hand’ Revolt in Serbia: People Power or Color Revolution?”

‘Scorecard, Scorecard, You Can’t Tell al-Qaeda Without a Scorecard’

When I was a child attending Cleveland Indian baseball games at the old Municipal Stadium a thin man in an Indians’ baseball cap ran up and down the aisles hawking scorecards and calling out, “Scorecard, scorecard, you can’t tell the players without a scorecard.” He was right. The scorecards would give you the player’s name, … Continue reading “‘Scorecard, Scorecard, You Can’t Tell al-Qaeda Without a Scorecard’”

Russia, Iran, and the Caucasian Chalk Circle

Reprinted from the American Committee for US-Russia Accord. It was only a few weeks ago that Russian President Vladimir V. Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met to ink the historic Russo-Iranian Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.  The pact itself was a milestone, so much so that commentators around the world are still widely discussing … Continue reading “Russia, Iran, and the Caucasian Chalk Circle”

Did We Just See Trump’s Ukraine Peace Plan?

A leaked document has given us a first glimpse at Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian online newspaper Strana, U.S. officials handed the plan to European diplomats who then passed it on to Ukraine. The existence of the plan has not been verified, and Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the … Continue reading “Did We Just See Trump’s Ukraine Peace Plan?”

Audit USAID… Then Shut It Down!

As of this writing, when you attempt to access the US Agency for International Development (USAID) website or social media pages you are informed that, “This site can’t be reached.” The media reports that the new Trump Administration has not only frozen USAID activities but may be planning on bringing it back under control of … Continue reading “Audit USAID… Then Shut It Down!”

What Does National Security Have To Do With Soaring Defense Spending?

Paraphrasing Thomas Jefferson, the natural progress of things is for prices to yield and for quality to gain ground.  Technology is what enables this natural progress.  Do televisions cost more now than they did in the early ‘90s?  What about mobile phones?  Same answer for both questions: both are better and less expensive today than … Continue reading “What Does National Security Have To Do With Soaring Defense Spending?”

Trump Should End the Ukraine War Now

President Trump had a simple but profound message about the Ukraine war during his campaign: “I want everybody to stop dying. They’re dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying.” About two weeks into his second term in office, Russians and Ukrainians are still dying, and not just soldiers. On January 29, a … Continue reading “Trump Should End the Ukraine War Now”